The College Crew
Number of people in the organization: At the most 15 at the least 8
Number of people impacted: 100
Describe the impact the grant had: This grant is giving us an opportunity to be more active in our community. Before we had ideas with no legs. This grant gives legs to our ideas and enables us to take a more active role in our communities progression.
Project highlights: We have had many highlights this past year. If I had to narrow it down to three, I would have to choose the ones that I think had the most impact on people. The first one I would highlight would be our two community service projects. During Thanksgiving 2008, we were allowed the opportunity to visit Walton Regional Nursing Home and spread holiday cheer to the residents during lunch time. We met with them in their dining hall and placed holiday cards on there tables with their names on them. We also sat down and spoke with them about life and family. I was able to give them something they may not have gotten otherwise, company. We also were able to participate along side Mt. Enon Baptist Church on Feed the Hungry Day. This is an annual event for the church. They prepare food for over 4,00 people and also give away clothes, free haircuts, and there is even an oppurtunity to find employment from several of the businesses in the community who have vendors at the event. For myself, this was an eye opening experience because I began to realize how blessed I was to be in my position and to value my education a little more than I did. Another thing I would highlight would be the overall structure of our Club. Because it is more of a business than a club. Instead of electing a President, Vice President, and etc. We decided instead to appoint positions to our members. We operated under the principle that "no one was too important or indespensible". We had three commitees to choose from. Community Service, Event Planning, and Marketing and Recruitment. Within each we all had a role to play. We also were given the opportunity to collaborate with the 9th grade academy at Monroe Area High School with the 2009 Summer Cane Camp. We served as student leaders to rising 9th graders coaching them with high school survival skills, campus tours, as well as mentors.
How did the project unfold and develop? The College Crew has made an effort to assist in increasing the number of students who attend college after high school. The goal of the The College Crew is to encorage secondary education and community service. The community was impacted because the group emphasizes the importance of going to college by planning, preparing and perseverance. We do not encourage with words but by our actions and our dilligence in preparation for life after high school. We do not consider ourselves to be a club, but a business dedicated to providing the students of Monroe Area High School with an oppurtunity to empower themselves through Mentorship, Fellowship, and guidance in post graduation options. Our Coordinator, our College and Career Counselor, equips us with the necessary skills to survive and thrive in the real world. We are now in our second year and we hope that we can continue along with the help of Dosomething.org as a sponsor to impact our community in an even greater capacity. On behalf of the College Crew, we would like to thank you for awarding us the grant. We can assure you that we will honor your wishes and use the money to make a change in our community.